Voters Approve Measure D Parcel Tax by Large Margin

Voters served by the San Gorgonio Memorial Health Care District have passed a $49 annual parcel tax, set to fund the hospital’s emergency room for the next ten years.

An overwhelming 72.6% of votes cast in Tuesday’s mail-in election were in favor of Measure D, according to figures released by the Riverside County Office of the Registrar.

In total, 11,744 mail-in ballots were received from the 33,312 voters eligible in the cities of Banning, Beaumont, Cherry Valley, Calimesa, Cabazon and surrounding areas. 

The hospital told Banning-Beaumont Patch Tuesday night that they are thrilled with the results, which will allow for the hospital to receive an estimated $18 million for emergency room expenses over the next 10 years, or $1.8 million a year.

“We are thrilled with the outcome, because it means we can continue to provide our community with excellent service in the event of an emergency,” the hospital said in a statement to Patch.  “We are grateful to the voters and our supporters for their help and dedication to SGMH.”

Turnout for this special election was especially high at 35%, as normally a small election of this nature sees less than 20%, according to Assistant Registrar of Voters Rebecca Spencer.

The results were all but final as of Tuesday, as some last minute ballots have yet to be counted.

“Election Night vote counting is complete but the election results are not final,” Registrar of Voters Kari Verjil announced on Facebook Tuesday night.  “There are approximately 160 ballots that remain to be processed.”

Those remaining ballots will be counted on Wednesday; though they will not affect the gap in votes by much.

Spencer said that the Registrar hopes to have the election certified within the next couple days.

The tax extends a current similar $38 annual fee that was set to expire at the end of June.